Touch sensor

Abstract

Provided is a touch sensor having a simple structure and enabling a driver to appropriately and quickly manipulate the touch sensor as intended without looking at a manipulation surface of the touch sensor. The touch sensor includes: multiple electrodes; detection means for detecting touch on any of electrodes and for outputting a detection signal for each electrode; touch judgment means for judging whether each of the electrodes is touched or untouched based on the detection signal; a switch having a manipulation button; control mode judgment means for determining a control function for a controlled device in accordance with an input signal transmitted from the switch when the manipulation button is manipulated; and permission means for permitting the touch judgment means to judge touch on each electrode in response to the input signal from the switch.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a touch sensor that detects that a person is in contact with an electrode by using a change in the electrostatic capacity of the electrode. Background technique [0002] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration in which various devices such as an air conditioner and an audio system of a vehicle are controlled using a capacitive touch sensor. According to the above configuration, the movement track of the operator's finger is read by the touch sensor, which operation pattern matches the movement track is judged, and various devices are controlled based on the operation content matching the operation pattern. [0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-131760 [0004] However, in the structure proposed in Patent Document 1, since a power key for activating the touch sensor and a release key for selecting various modes are provided separately, a large switch surface is required. In addit...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, there is a problem that not only the size of the device is increased, but also the burden on the operator is increased due to the complicated operation, so that it cannot be easily installed for widespread use.

[0006] In particular, when the touch sensor is installed on the steering wheel of the vehicle, since the installation area is small, if a large operation part is installed, it will bring trouble to the driver's steering operation.

In addition, since the operation is performed while driving, it is difficult for the driver to move the finger greatly, and it is limited to simple operation actions, so a simple operation system that does not provide many operation keys is desired.

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